Each day, Anna spends nearly six hours at her loom, weaving huipiles—traditional handwoven blouses that reflect generations of Maya artistry and identity.
In her home in Panajachel, Anna has spent years preserving this tradition while using her weaving to support her family. At 57 years old, she has built a lifetime of knowledge through her hands, her creativity, and the traditions passed down within her family.
Anna herself ended her formal education after third grade, and as a mother of two adult children, weaving has been both a cultural practice and an important way to contribute to her household. She sells her pieces to friends, family, and even to customers through her Facebook page, creating an additional source of income for her family.
For Anna, weaving has been part of life since childhood. She first learned by watching her mother, drawn to the colors and patterns that took shape thread by thread. As a young girl, she enjoyed weaving because it gave her time to be close to her mother and learn from her.
“I was with my mother when she was weaving, and I felt inspired to make one of my own… I liked weaving and watching my mother weave. That gave me the desire to be there with her, weaving together.”
Today, Anna especially enjoys creating dibujos, or intricate woven designs, that make each piece unique. Through every pattern, she preserves knowledge that has been passed down across generations of Maya women.
To continue strengthening her skills, Anna participates in Natün’s Artisan and Entrepreneurship Training Center. She first joined backstrap weaving classes, where she learned more technical skills such as working with different threads and measuring designs by inches.
She is currently taking sewing and embroidery classes and recently graduated from the first stage of the Corte y Confección (cutting and sewing) course.
Anna is also part of the first cohort of women to receive Aprendo y Emprendo (Learn and Launch), a guide that strengthens personal, technical, and entrepreneurial skills while supporting Indigenous women in developing rural businesses rooted in their knowledge and traditions.
These opportunities allow women like Anna to build on their existing knowledge while expanding ways to generate income that are rooted in culture and community.
Anna has also taught her children to weave, hoping this knowledge will remain with them in the future. For her, weaving is not only a source of income today, but a skill that can serve as a backup for her children if they ever need a way to sustain themselves.
“If one day.. if they do not have work, if they cannot find any, they can sustain themselves by making weavings.”
Her story reflects more than economic opportunity. It is a story of cultural continuity, resilience, and how Maya women invest in families through knowledge passed from one generation to the next.
Watch a short glimpse of Anna’s weaving process and the tradition she continues through her work.
